Baseball pitching machine

ABSTRACT

A baseball pitching machine has as divisible main components a support frame and an upper frame. The support frame is adapted for ground contact and preferably includes a hold-down member overlying the ground and spanning between rear frame legs. The upper frame carries the throwing mechanism which includes a fixed horizontally disposed shaft adapted to be carried by the support frame, an axle carried coaxially within the shaft and likewise carried by the support frame, a throwing arm mounted upon the axle, an activating mechanism mounted upon the shaft and free for rotation thereabout, a spring engaging the shaft and throwing arm, a detent for selectively coupling the activating mechanism and throwing arm, and a release for selectively disengaging the aforementioned coupled pair. The above structure results in a pitching machine of enhanced safety since the machine may not be left cocked and ready to fire.

July 1, 1975 United States Patent 191 Raty ABSTRACT BASEBALL PITCHING MACHINE [76] Inventor: Pertti Tapani Raty, 160 The A baseball pitching machine has as divisible main Donway West, Apt. 111, Don Mills, Ontario, Canada Dec. 27, 1973 components a support frame and an upper frame. The

support frame is adapted for ground contact and pref- [22] Filed:

ground and spanning between rear 21 Appl. No.: 428,933

includes a fixed horizontally disposed shaft adapted to be carried by the support frame, an axle carried coaxially within the shaft and likewise carried by the support frame. a throwing arm mounted upon the axle, an activating mechanism mounted upon the shaft and free for rotation thereabout, a spring engaging the shaft and throwing arm, a detent for selectively coupling the activating mechanism and throwing arm, and a release for selectively disengaging the aforementioned coupled pair. The above structure results in a pitching machine of enhanced safety since the machine may not be left cocked and ready to fire.

camp Hnnn 1/ um44 4M 11mm Q4 3 HUN 7 n a" .114 H H D m m 6 m m 2 m S n u I v T n u 3 6 N n n 7 3 H u 2 n, E m m i 7 T 0 n 7 A u u u u 4 2 G "u n 2 5 m .m l "n 3E M u CT v. t e n m" A mmfim H m rTho m m H SBPDE u h eD R U M E370 H 3577 u 19999 NHHH C .0 U656- d Ld 0 l. i] 1 m 2 8 6 l. .l w 5... 5 3% 13 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures Primary ExaminerRichard C. Pinkham Assistant ExaminerWilliam R. Browne Attorney, Agent, or Firm-W. John McClenahan', William D. Parks; James A. Lamb BASEBALL PITCHING MACHINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a device for throwing projectiles, and more particularly, to a baseball pitching machine.

The invention embodies a novel structure comprising as divisible main components a support frame and an upper frame. The support frame is adapted for ground contact and may include a member joining rear legs and serving as a hold-down plate when stood on by a machine operator. The upper frame carries the throwing mechanism which is of simple mechanical construction and includes fixed horizontally disposed shaft means adapted to be carried by the support frame, an axle carried coaxially within the shaft means and likewise carried by the support frame, a throwing arm mounted upon the axle, an activating mechanism mounted upon the shaft means and free for rotation thereabout, a spring engaging the shaft means and throwing arm, detent means for selectively coupling the activating mechanism and throwing arm, and releasing means for selectively disengaging the aforementioned coupled pair.

In operation, an operator loads a ball in a forwardly disposed projectile carrying means fixed to the pitching arm, stands upon the hold-down plate, grasps the activating mechanism and pushes it forward to couple at a first position with the throwing arm by means of the detent means. The operator then pulls the coupled pair back towards a second position, all the while storing energy in the spring as the pitching arm is rotated relative to the shaft means. At a predetermined second position the releasing means disengages the coupled pair with the result that the throwing arm is forced by the spring to return to the first position and concomitantly throw the ball as the first position is reached.

2. Description of the Prior Art In general, prior art baseball pitching machines are either mechanized, and hence much more complicated, or utilize a throwing arm which is urged to a cocked position and thereafter, at will, released by a trigger mechanism. Furthermore, the majority of reliably accurate prior art devices are sufficiently cumbersome to preclude easy portability and storage.

The fact that a machine may be left with the pitching arm in a cocked position represents a potential danger, especially when young ball players are involved, since such a machine may be inadvertently discharged, thereby causing injury.

SUMMARY The baseball pitching machine of the present invention comprises 1. a support frame adapted for ground mounting,

2. fixed longitudinally extending shaft means carried by the support frame,

3. a horizontally disposed axle carried by the support frame and extending coaxially within the shaft means,

4. a throwing arm mounted at a first end upon the axle and having projectile carrying means adjacent a second end,

5. an activating mechanism mounted on the shaft means and adapted for rotational movement thereabout,

6. a spring engaging the shaft means and throwing arm and adapted to store energy as the throwing arm is rotated between first and second positions,

7. detent means carried by the activating mechanism and adapted to engage the throwing arm at the first position, and

8. releasing means for causing disengagement of the throwing arm from the detent means at a second position when a preselected amount of energy has been stored in the spring by rotational movement of the activating mechanism and throwing arm about the fixed shaft means.

The abovementioned support frame 1. may be readily divided from the remaining elements (2)-(8) which collectively constitutes an upper frame. In this manner the two prime components are conclusive to compact portability and storage.

The horizontally disposed axle may either be fixed with respect to the support frame, in which case the throwing arm is free for rotation thereabout, or rotatable with respect to the support frame, in which case the throwing arm is fixed to the axle. While the device is operable with either construction, the former is preferred.

Since the present device requires engagement of the activating mechanism with the throwing arm and since disengagement is automatic when a predetermined position is achieved, it is impossible to leave the machine of the present invention cocked, or ready to fire. As aforementioned, disengagement of the activator mechanism is effected automatically at a predetermined position and, in the event that the position is not attained, the throwing arm is returned to the first, rest position by the kinetic energy of the spring.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention, and in which like parts are referred to with a common reference numeral:

FIG. I is a side elevation, partly cut away, illustrating the novel baseball pitching machine,

FIG. 2 is a front elevation, partly cut away, of the machine of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 1, and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODlMENT Referring now to FIG. 1, a support frame 10 includes front legs 12 and rear legs 14, the latter mounting therebetween a hold-down plate I6. The legs 12 and 14 may terminate in ground anchor spikes 18. The support frame 10 further includes front and rear cross members 20 and 22, respectively, best seen in FIG. 2, as well as an arcuate member 24 extending upwardly from a position along rear cross member 22.

A pair of ears 26 extend upwardly from said support frame 10 adjacent the junction of frame I0 and the ends of the front cross bar 20. The ears include horizontally disposed slots 28 in the forward surfaces as well as pin members 30 adjacent the back facing ear edges.

Shaft means 32, best viewed in FIG. 5, comprise coaxial shaft halves having inner end plates 34 and outer end flanged plates 36. The flanged plates 36 include edge notches 38, shown in FIG. 1 as cooperating with pin members 30, to thereby fix the shaft means respective to the support frame.

Running coaxially within shaft means 30 is axle 40 which is carried by slots 28in ears 26. The axle extends through plates 34 and 36 through apertures journaled therefor. A throwing arm 42 is mounted centrally upon axle 40 and may either be fixed thereto or free for rotation thereabout. In the case ofthe former it is necessary then that axle 40 be free for rotation within slots 28 whereas in the case of the latter the axle 40 may be fixed. The fixed axle embodiment is preferred.

Throwing arm 42 terminates in an end 44 adapted for coupling with the detent means. to be described later. Arm 42 further includes a forwardly disposed projectile carrying means 46 especially structured for use with projectiles such as a ball. The means 46 includes an inner end 48 providing a cradle for a ball in a rest position, and an outer end 50 adapted to restrain rear and upper surfaces of a ball as the same is forced from the cradle under the influence of centrifugal force. The arm 42 may also include a stop plate 52 for cooperating with a stop member, to be described later.

Mounted rotatably upon shaft means 32 are the lower yoke ends 54 of an inverted Y-shaped activating mechanism 56. Activator 56 includes an upper neck 58 terminating in handle means 60. Pivotally mounted on neck 58 is a detent means 62 having a hook like forward arm 64 and a trailing rearward arm 66.

Activating mechanism 56 and throwing arm 42 are so constructed and arranged that upon forward rotational travel of mechanism 56 the forward arm 64 of detent 62 engages upper end 44 of throwing arm 42.

helical torsion spring 68 engages shaft means 32 and throwing arm 42, the spring ends 70 lodging in anchor holes 72 in shaft means 32, see FIG. for detail.

A rear edge of throwing arm 42 abuts the central loop 74 of spring 68.

The remaining major component comprising an upper frame 76 including a first inverted U-member 78 rotatably mounted upon shaft means 32 by journaled ends 80, integral bracing means 82 spanning across the U-member, an arcuate channel member 84 and a second inverted U-member 86 which fixedly shares the journaled ends 80 of U-member 78.

Bracingmeans 82 are so adapted'and constructed as to carry a stop member 88, such as a rubber laboratory bottle stopper,- whichtco-operates with stop plate 52 of arm 42. The cooperation between these elements serves to define a first position at which the pitching arm is in a full forward rotational attitude The arcuate channel member 84, best seen in FIG. 3, extends between the mid-base portions of members '78 and 86,and is adapted to freely slidably accept neck 58 and detent means 62 therein during rotation of mechanism 56.

Mounted for selective sliding movement within arcuate channel 84 is a detent releasing means 90, which will now be described with reference to FIG. 3. Releasing means90 includes a headed bolt member 92 which terminates in a threaded end 94. The head portion of the bolt member 92 is of sufficient size to overly both bottom edges of channel 84. The threaded end 94 extends through an aperture 96 in a compression cap member Ml-and is threadably received by a housing l0" which includes handle means 102. Compression cap 98, and hence releasing means 90, may be fixed against surfaces 103 of channel 84 by turning handle 102 and effecting tightening of the bolt 92 within housing )0.

The upper frame 76 additionally fixedly carries locking means 104 at the lower end of channel 84. Referring to locking means 104 with reference to FIG. 4, it comprises an inner plate 106 fixed to the bottom surfaces of channel 84, a threaded outer plate 108 fixed to the outwardly parallelly extending arcuate channel edges, and a handle 110 having a threaded end H2 which threadably engages plate 108. Arcuate member 24, which is shown as terminating above locking means 104 in FIG. 1, is carried within the passageway formed by the interconnection of channel 84 and plates 106 and 108. A wear member 114, such as of soft metal, rubber or fibrous material, may be provided in abutting relationship between the facing arcuate member 24 and threaded end 112 surfaces.

Since the arcs of arcuate channel 84 and arcuate frame member 24 are of equal curvature, the entire upper frame 76 may be selectively rotated for locking, by means of member 104, at any position along arcuate frame member 24. Locking is, of course, easily effected by tightening of threaded end 112 within plate [08. This selectively rotatable feature allows for adjustment of trajectory for thrown projectiles.

In a preferred enbodiment, the sides, top and front surfaces of upper frame 76 are covered by a cowling 116, shown in FIG. 1 as being attached by means I18 such as rivets, screws, nuts and bolts and the like. The cowling 116 does not cover the channel portion of arcuate channel 84 nor does it cover an area defining a projectile exit hole 120 opposite projectile carrying means 46 when the throwing arm 42 is at the first position, i.e. contacting stop member 88 with stop plate 52.

In operation, an operator loads a ball in carrying means inner end 48, stands behind the mechanism with feet on the hold-down plate 16, grasps handle 60 and pushes activating mechanism 56 forward until end 44 of throwing arm 42 is engaged by hook 64. The operator then pulls handle 60 back thereby moving the throwing arm from the first position towards a second position, concomitantly storing energy in the spring as the throwing arm is rotated relative to the shaft means 32. A second position is predetermined by the placement of releasing means 90 along the arcuate channel 84. As the operator continues drawing back on handle 60, trailing arm 66 ultimately contacts the headed bolt member thereby causing pivoting of detent means 62 and simultaneous disengagement of hook 64 and throwing arm end 44. Upon disengagement the throwing arm 42 is forced by the spring back to the first position. Under the influence of the centrifugal force acting upon the ball the same is forced upwards to end 50 of the projectile carrying means and pitched" as the stop plate 52 strikes stop member 88.

As mentioned previously the trajectory of a pitch may be varied by varying the locking point of locking means 104 along the length of arcuate frame member 24. ln this manner the device is suited for both batting" and outfield" practice.

Direction of a pitch may be altered simply by lifting the rear of the machine and shifting the same sideways, as desired.

Velocity of a pitch may be varied by two means.

Firstly. the point of disengagement of the activating and throwing arms is determined by the position of the detent releasing means 90. In other words, the greater the rotation of the throwing arm prior to disengagement the greater the velocity.

Secondly, pretensioning of the spring may be varied by the selection of the flange edge notches 38 engaging the ear pins 30.

Spring pretensioning is better understood upon an explanation of how the device may be broken down for portability or storage. Assuming that the machine is together, the operator releases locking means 104, rotates the upper frame 76 until it clears arcuate frame member 24 and then pushes the upper frame forward so that axle 40 slides out of ear slots 28. The device, which is now in two pieces, is readily portable.

Having described how to take the device apart, it is now apparent that spring tensioning may be varied when assembling the unit by rotating shaft members 32 as necessary when slipping axle 40 into ear slots 28 to engage the desired flange edge notches 38 with ear pins 30. Assembling is completed by rotating the upper frame 76 until it slides over arcuate frame member 24 and then locking thereto in the desired position.

The present invention accordingly provides for a baseball pitching machine that allows for selection of direction, velocity and trajectory of a pitched ball, that is readily dismantled for portability and storage and is of enhanced safety in that it cannot inadvertently be left cocked and ready to fire.

A previously unmentioned advantage is present in the inventive pitching machine, especially when used by younger players whose reflexes and batting skills are still developing. Specifically, the machine displays a wind up motion" to a batter, thereby more effectively simulating game conditions. The wind up motion is that of the operator visibly pulling back upon the activating mechanism prior to the moment when the releasing means is contacted and the projectile pitched.

It is apparent that many modifications may be made within the spirit of the invention and the embodiments described and illustrated are not to be construed as limiting. As an example of other structure contemplated by the present invention is the situation where the axle 30 is neither truly fixed nor free for rotation. The device is still equally operable under these circumstances as long as the pitching or throwing arm is freely rotatable about the axle. Other modifications will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. A device for throwing projectiles such as baseballs, comprising:

1. a support frame adapted for ground mounting,

2. a fixed horizontally disposed shaft carried by said support frame,

3. a fixed horizontally disposed axle carried by said support frame and extending coaxially within said shaft,

4. a throwing arm rotatably mounted at a first end upon said axle and having a projectile carrying basket adjacent a second end,

5. a mechanism mounted upon said shaft and rotatable therewith for releasably lockably engaging said throwing arm,

6. spring means engaging said shaft and said throwing arm and adapted to store energy as said throwing arm is rotated between first and second positions,

7. said mechanism includes a detent means adapted to releasably engage the throwing arm at said first postion,

8. a release means spaced from said first position for causing disengagement of said throwing arm from said detent means at the second position when a pre-selected amount of energy has been stored in the spring by rotational movement of the activating mechanism and said throwing arm about the fixed shaft, and

9. an upper frame rotatably carried by said shaft, said upper frame including a stop to halt rotational movement of said pitching arm at said first position, said upper frame having a lock for locking the upper frame to said support frame in an attitude giving a desired trajectory to a thrown projectile, said upper frame further including an arcuate channel within which an end portion of the mechanism travels during rotation thereof about said shaft, said arcuate channel having adjustably mounted therein the release for causing throwing arm disengagement from said mechanism.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein said support frame includes an arcuate frame member upon which the upper frame is locked in a desired attitude,

the shape of the arcuate channel and arcuate frame member being of equal curvature.

3. A device according to claim 2 wherein said support frame has a pair of spaced apart lateral ear members provided with slots adapted to accept the axle ends, the ear members further carrying means on the facing surfaces thereof for fixedly engaging said fixed horizontally disposed shaft.

4. A device according to claim 3, further including flanged end portions on said shaft, said means on the facing surfaces are pins which co-operate with corresponding notches provided in said flanged end portions.

5. A device according to claim 4, further including pins, said shaft flanged end portions are provided with a multiplicity of spaced notches in order that spring pretensioning ofsaid spring may be effected and varied according to the choice of notches engaged by the pins.

6. A device according to claim 1 wherein the projectile carrying basket consists of a contoured basket structured as an inner end to cradle a circular projectile when a projectile is in a rest position and structured at an outer end to restrain rear and upper surfaces of a projectile as the same is forced out of the basket inner end under centrifugal force upon rotational movement of said throwing arm between said second and first positions.

7. A device according to claim 1 wherein said detent means comprises a hook member pivoted upon said mechanism, said hook member having a forward arm for engaging the free end of said throwing arm and a rearward arm for contacting said release mechanism and effecting pivoting of the hook member to disengage said forward arm from said throwing arm.

8. A device according to claim 1 wherein said mechanism comprises an inverted Y-shaped yoke adapted at the ends for rotational movement about the shaft, the neck of the yoke extending outward and terminating in a handle, the yoke neck carrying said detent means and being adapted for travel within said arcuate channel.

the ground surface.

12. A device according to claim 11 wherein each of said front and back leg pairs include spike means adapted to provide a ground anchor.

13. A device according to claim 12 wherein said upper frame is covered by a cowling member. leaving exposed the arcuate channel and an area defining a projectile exit hole opposite the projectile carrying basket when the throwing arm is in said first position. 

1. A device for throwing projectiles such as baseballs, comprising:
 1. a support frame adapted for ground mounting,
 2. a fixed horizontally disposed shaft carried by said support frame,
 3. a fixed horizontally disposed axle carried by said support frame and extending coaxially within said shaft,
 4. a throwing arm rotatably mounted at a first end upon said axle and having a projectile carrying basket adjacent a second end,
 5. a mechanism mounted upon said shaft and rotatable therewith for releasably lockably engaging said throwing arm,
 6. spring means engaging said shaft and said throwing arm and adapted to store energy as said throwing arm is rotated between first and second positions,
 7. said mechanism includes a detent means adapted to releasably engage the throwing arm at said first postion,
 8. a release means spaced from said first position for causing disengagement of said throwing arm from said detent means at the second position when a pre-selected amount of energy has been stored in the spring by rotational movement of the activating mechanism and said throwing arm about the fixed shaft, and
 9. an upper frame rotatably carried by said shaft, said upper frame including a stop to halt rotational movement of said pitching arm at said first position, said upper frame having a lock for locking the upper frame to said support frame in an attitude giving a desired trajectory to a thrown projectile, said upper frame further including an arcuate channel within which an end portion of the mechanism travels during rotation thereof about said shaft, said arcuate channel having adjustably mounted therein the release for causing throwing arm disengagement from said mechanism.
 2. a fixed horizontally disposed shaft carried by said support frame,
 2. A device according to claim 1 wherein said support frame includes an arcuate frame member upon which the upper frame is locked in a desired attitude, the shape of the arcuate channel and arcuate frame member being of equal curvature.
 3. A device according to claim 2 wherein said support frame has a pair of spaced apart lateral ear members provided with slots adapted to accept the axle ends, the ear members further carrying means on the facing surfaces thereof for fixedly engaging said fixed horizontally disposed shaft.
 3. a fixed horizontally disposed axle carried by said support frame and extending coaxially within said shaft,
 4. a throwing arm rotatably mounted at a first end upon said axle and having a projectile carrying basket adjacent a second end,
 4. A device according to claim 3, further including flanged end portions on said shaft, said means on the facing surfaces are pins which co-operate with corresponding notches provided in said flanged end portions.
 5. A device according to claim 4, further including pins, said shaft flanged end portions are provided with a multiplicity of spaced notches in order that spring pretensioning of said spring may be effected and varied according to the choice of notches engaged by the pins.
 5. a mechanism mounted upon said shaft and rotatable therewith for releasably lockably engaging said throwing arm,
 6. spring means engaging said shaft and said throwing arm and adapted to store energy as said throwing arm is rotated between first and second positions,
 6. A device according to claim 1 wherein the projectile carrying basket consists of a contoured basket structured as an inner end to cradle a circular projectile when a projectile is in a rest position and structured at an outEr end to restrain rear and upper surfaces of a projectile as the same is forced out of the basket inner end under centrifugal force upon rotational movement of said throwing arm between said second and first positions.
 7. said mechanism includes a detent means adapted to releasably engage the throwing arm at said first postion,
 7. A device according to claim 1 wherein said detent means comprises a hook member pivoted upon said mechanism, said hook member having a forward arm for engaging the free end of said throwing arm and a rearward arm for contacting said release mechanism and effecting pivoting of the hook member to disengage said forward arm from said throwing arm.
 8. A device according to claim 1 wherein said mechanism comprises an inverted Y-shaped yoke adapted at the ends for rotational movement about the shaft, the neck of the yoke extending outward and terminating in a handle, the yoke neck carrying said detent means and being adapted for travel within said arcuate channel.
 8. a release means spaced from said first position for causing disengagement of said throwing arm from said detent means at the second position when a pre-selected amount of energy has been stored in the spring by rotational movement of the activating mechanism and said throwing arm about the fixed shaft, and
 9. an upper frame rotatably carried by said shaft, said upper frame including a stop to halt rotational movement of said pitching arm at said first position, said upper frame having a lock for locking the upper frame to said support frame in an attitude giving a desired trajectory to a thrown projectile, said upper frame further including an arcuate channel within which an end portion of the mechanism travels during rotation thereof about said shaft, said arcuate channel having adjustably mounted therein the release for causing throwing arm disengagement from said mechanism.
 9. A device according to claim 8 wherein said shaft comprises two coaxial halves, the facing ends of which abut the throwing arm.
 10. A device according to claim 9 wherein the spring includes a helical torsion spring, the free ends of which engage apertures in respective shaft member halves.
 11. A device according to claim 10 wherein said support frame includes a pair of spaced apart front support legs and a pair of spaced apart back support legs, the latter being joined by a plate member adapted to overly the ground surface.
 12. A device according to claim 11 wherein each of said front and back leg pairs include spike means adapted to provide a ground anchor.
 13. A device according to claim 12 wherein said upper frame is covered by a cowling member, leaving exposed the arcuate channel and an area defining a projectile exit hole opposite the projectile carrying basket when the throwing arm is in said first position. 